Association between Mental Health Disorders and Juveniles - Research Paper Example

? Juvenile delinquency “Association between mental health disorders and juveniles' detention for a personal crime.” By Stoddard-Dare, Mallett and Boitel. Article summary In the recent past, former studies prove that there is a drastic increase in the number of youth’s involvement with juvenile courts in United States and the rest of the world. For instance, 1.7 million youths are annually condemned delinquent while 500,000 are in probation (Stoddard-Dare, Mallett & Boitel, 2011). Many of these youths often suffer from diverse mental disorders and difficulties, which in many instances comprise factors leading them to commit delinquent behaviors. This poses a great challenge to the juvenile courts’ magistrates on how to balance juvenile justice principles of youth accountability and rehabilitation after commiting a certain offence. In this study, researchers focused on finding out which type of mental disorders were mostly likely to cause youths end up committing personal criminal activities (Stoddard-Dare, Mallett & Boitel, 2011). Such investigations are valuable in informing people of how early identification of mental disorders is vital and initiating adequate preventive measures against personal crimes among teenagers. Additionally, understanding these mental disorders and their impact on youth delinquents is imperative in the quest of fighting vices that make them end up involving themselves with juvenile court system. This is because according to this study, 20% of all delinquent youths in United States suffer from varied mental complications, which are the causes of numerous emotional disturbances (Stoddard-Dare, Mallett & Boitel, 2011). Mental disorders often associated with youths in juvenile courts include affective disorders, psychotic disorders and anxiety disorders (Stoddard-Dare, Mallett & Boitel, 2011). This study took a sample of 341 youths randomly from one urban Midwestern United States county juvenile court to participate in the research with the intention of unveiling precisely, which specific mental disorders acted were the main causes of youths involving themselves with juvenile justice system. This was conducted from 2006 to 2008 comprising total populations of delinquents in these three years (Stoddard-Dare, Mallett & Boitel, 2011). The study entailed accessing of existing case records and files of each delinquent youth thought to experience mental after clinically confirmed. The study utilized an electronic number table to select random sample files from each population year. According to this study’s statistics, ADHD and conduct disorder exhibited a decreased number of youths being in detention because of their involvement with court system. However, bipolar disorder was more likely to cause youths’ involvement with the court system after committing personal crimes as well as getting detained in the juvenile facilities. Author’s conclusion According to Stoddard-Dare, Mallett and Boitel, a large number of youths who get involved with juvenile courts in the United States have mental health setbacks, which are often severe. In addition, those sentenced to life or in incarceration facilities in US usually portray drastic mental complications. Authors also deem it is essential to come up with preventive measures to prevent youths experiencing mental complications from committing personal crime incidences (Stoddard-Dare, Mallett & Boitel, 2011). In addition, Stoddard-Dare, Mallett and Boitel, insist there ought to be a detailed research in future that will include essential information from the juvenile personnel regarding influence of varied disorders. Since, this study did not exactly ascertain the required validity concerning the involvement of juvenile with court system. One of the reason cited that contributed to this inadequacy was the use of court records that may have varied inaccuracies. Strengths and weaknesses of the study There are varied weaknesses in this study due to the authors’ assumptions that decrease its scholarly authority or being not highly recommendable. For instance, despite using a random electronic sampling method, cases featured in this study were only from one large US Midwestern county, hence leaving out others that had high criminal cases (Stoddard-Dare, Mallett & Boitel, 2011). Therefore, the study did not attain the required general feature of the entire United States, as it ought to be. Subjects used were all from Midwestern County, which cannot rule out the possibility most of the youths in the locality participating in personal criminal activities and detained in juvenile facilities suffer from the same mental disorders. In addition, despite the dependent variable statistically being sufficient in number of cases, the causes were still small compared to the previous related studies. This reveals the unreliability of this study’s conclusions due to the less number of dependent variables. In addition, despite unveiling how many youths participate in criminal activities because of varied mental disorders, the study failed to advocate an appropriate strategy meant to curb this scenario and especially the detention of youths. Measurement of personal criminal activities and mental disorders in this study highly relied on existing case records in the juvenile courts (Stoddard-Dare, Mallett & Boitel, 2011). One can only presume that there are a number of youths with unspotted mental health issues in varied detention facilities other than those featured in the court records. In addition, the database and all information used in conducting this research were from existing court records (Stoddard-Dare, Mallett & Boitel, 2011). Hence, researchers failed to consider the aspect of inaccuracies in these files. The study explicitly shows how imperative it is for both parents and teachers to ascertain in early stages mental disorders affecting youths. The study also talks of how important it is for the varied stakeholders to take improved collaborative and preventive actions to keep these mentally disabled youths from criminal activities. In addition, authors clearly state how juvenile facilities by setting aside youths involved in criminal aspects end up prompting them to do more harm than good to themselves (Stoddard-Dare, Mallett & Boitel, 2011). This is because in these confinements, detainees usually experience varied ridicule, recidivism and emotional torture from the personnel and fellow juveniles besides conditions they endure on daily basis. Personal opinions concerning the study This study is very imperative because it sheds light for the government as well as other stakeholders a means finding effective measures towards curbing personal criminal activities perpetrated by youths experiencing varied mental disorders. Government, parents, teachers and the entire community at large ought to take part in this exercise of ensuring youths with mental disorders acquire adequate rehabilitation services. The latter will also assist in curbing the increase of youth personal criminal statistics. The research ought to have included other data about youths still in the community setting whom due to lack of adequate measures may end up involving themselves with court system. Incorporating at-risk youth populations in the research prior to their juvenile court involvement would enable tracking of their outcomes. It will also enable one to predict which other independent factor can influence detention centre placement for committing a personal crime. It is very vital for the government to come up with alternative rehabilitative measures that will accommodate youths with mental disorders and involved in personal criminal activities. This is because when put in the current confinement and detective facilities, these subjects undergo utter emotional torture and depression. In addition, the government ought to come up with community based punitive actions, which in the past have managed to decrease criminal offense among the youth even involved, those in violent crimes. Reference Stoddard-Dare, P., Mallett, C. A., & Boitel, C. (2011). Association between mental health disorders and juveniles' detention for a personal crime. Child & Adolescent Mental Health, 16(4), 208-213. DOI:10.1111/j.1475-3588.2011.00599.x Read More